How long did the Jews wander in the Desert? Silly question,
40 years, as the Torah says. It also says that at the end of these
40 years Moses died at age 120. That makes Moses 80 when
he led the people out of Egypt.

Now my question: At the beginning of Moses's mission,
the verse says "And Moses was 80 years old, and Aaron was
83 years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh." But didn't the
plagues take place over the course of an entire year? Moses must
have had a birthday some time during that year. That would make
him 81 when he led the Jews out of Egypt. So back to my
original "silly" question: How long did the Jews wander
in the desert?

Dear Brandon,

Good question. Now I'll ask you one.

How can the verse list Moses's age when he spoke to Pharaoh? Didn't
he speak to Pharaoh over the course of an entire year? He had
a birthday during that year. How, then, can the verse give a definitive
figure for Moses's age 'when he spoke to Pharaoh.'

Obviously, the verse refers to his age either at the beginning
of the year or the end. Your question assumes the verse refers
to the beginning.

But it's more logical to assume that the verse refers to Moses's
age at the endof the year. After all, the end of
his mission was the essential part, including the warning of the
'death of the first-born.' And a careful look at the verse's context
reveals it to be part of an overview of the year's events:

Hashem tells Moses:

"You will say everything I will command you...and
I will take out My people, the Children of Israel, from the land
of Egypt ... And Moses and Aaron did as Hashem commanded them
... and Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 in their
speaking to Pharaoh."

Nowadays it's common to retire at 65. Golfing, lolling, and relaxing
are major activities during what are sometimes called the 'declining
years.' The Torah tells us Moses's age to show that the great
leaders of the Jewish People never lose their zeal for growth
and accomplishment. At an age when most are long retired, Moses
and Aaron attained their history's greatest achievements.